There is no shortage of criticism for shows like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette where people find their spouse through reality television, but televising marriage choices is nothing new. Between 1951 and 1954 couples could get married live on television on a 15 minute show called “Bride and Groom.” The program, which was broadcast between soap operas first on CBS and later on NBC, offered couples the chance to be legally married on camera and not only provided the minister, dress, and music, but also gifted the newly wed couple with various household items to get them started and even paid for their honeymoon.

Host John Nelson interviews the newly wed Earl and Genevieve Ranney on the radio version of the show in 1947. (via reminisce.com)

As an additional parting gift, each couple was given a 16mm film of their wedding to show their friends and relatives who were not able to see the broadcast. Many of these films have since been converted and uploaded to youtube, including footage of some couples who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversaries this year. One of those couples, Don and Mary Lou Ellis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, spoke to their local newspaper about their television wedding this past month. According to the article, which you can find here, around 70,000 couples applied to the show each year and those who were accepted to be married on television were chosen for the uniqueness of their stories.

Don Ellis, standing next to his new bride Mary Lou, shakes host John Nelson’s hand on “Bride & Groom” in August, 1952 (screen capture from youtube)

Rings for the bride and groom were provided by Keepsake Diamond Rings, who furnished a band of small, channel set diamonds for the bride and a matching ring for the groom. You can find similar classic style wedding bands on Turtle Love Co.’s website by clicking here.